Corn-sheller.



A. R. LUDINGTON & H. K. OLMSTED- CORN SHELLER. APPLIOATIOK FILED MAR.23, 1908.

Patented Oct. 20, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

A. R. LUDINGTON & H. K. OLMS TED.

GORN SHELLER.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 23, 1908.

Patented Oct. 20, 1908;

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

[7221972 fans:

Liz/y licati on.

UmTED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE ALBERT R. LUDINGTON AND HENRY K. OLMSTED, OFGALESBURG, ILLINOIS.

CORN-SHELLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 20, 1908.

Application filed March 23, 1908. Serial No. 422,808.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ALBERT R. LUDING- Ten and HENRY K. OLMSTED,citizens of the United States, and residents of Galesburg, in the countyof Knox and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Corn-Sheller, of which the following is a speci- The invention relates todevices employed in shelling corn.

One of the objects thereof is to provide a device which, Whethermanually operated or by power, will effectively free the grains orkernels from the cob without mutilating or breaking either.

Another object is to provide a device of the character described whichwill effectively shell corn of widely different natures andorganizations, and which will completely free the grains from either alarge or a small cob.

A further object is to provide a simple means of winnowing the grain.And a still further object is to subserve economy and utility in themanufacture without sacrificing either strength, utility or durability.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part specified.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements and arrangement of parts for coaction, and thescope of the application of which will be pointed out in the appendedclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein is illustrated a preferred formand assemblage of our invention: Figure 1 is an elevation, seen from theside at which the operator stands in feeding and actuating the device;Fig. 2, a top plan; Fig. 3, an end elevation; Fig. 4, a modification, asectional detail, taken in the line w a', Fig. 1; Fig. 5, an enlargedfragmental elevation of the shelling cylinder; and Fig. 6, a sectionaldetail, taken in the line w--w in Fig. 1.

Like reference numerals indicate like parts tln'oughout the drawings.

In order to render clearer the general idea of the invention it may herebe noted that much loss is entailed in the operation of shelling corn byreason of rigid, unyielding constructions which, while adapted tosuccessfully shell corn the ears composing which are approximately thesame in diameter, will permit a small ear to pass through without beingcompletely stripped of its grains, and

will tear or shred a large ear and crack or break the grains or kernels.It will be appreciated that it is highly desirable to provide a simplemeans for holding the ears, both when in their entirety and when partlyshelled, with a yielding contact against the means which separates thegrains from the cob, as in this manner a marked economy is attained.Especially is it desirable that the kernels of popcorn be not broken oreven their outer covering fractured, for they will then not swell andburstopen or pop when subjected to the action of heat, but will bake andbe a detriment to the popped mass. The advantage of providing a devicewhich will not fracture the kernels of any variety of corn intended forseed will be evident, as not only is each cracked grain a loss, but itresults in the loss of the use of the ground in which it is planted.

The above and other advantages are at tained, and the objections recitedare overcome in constructions of the nature of that hereinafterdescribed.

Referring again to said drawings, 2 represents a casing which may besupported on a frame 3 as shown, in inclined position, or in any othersuitable manner, its lower end being provided with an opening, notshown, and a spout, 3 for the escape of the cobs. e have illustrated thecasing as being of sheet metal bent into substantially U-shape, wherebythe shelled grains will more readily slide down the inclined planethereof for ready escape as hereinafter described. To prevent itspreading, we fix a metallic bar 28 across the upper edges of its lowerend. A shaft l provided with a sprocket pinion 5 and a crank 6 is journaled in the ends of the casing and carries a shelling cylinder 7fixed thereon, which cylinder is shown as constructed of wood andprovided with a. sheet metal shell 7 a but which may be constructed inany suitable and preferred manner. The cylinder is provided withspirally arranged series of teeth or pegs 8.

Fixed to the casing and projecting laterally therefrom and partlythereover is a hopper 9, the inner bottom portion 10, Fig. 2, of whichis inclined toward the cylinder. A cover-section 10 is hinged as shownat same figure, by a rod 12, and is provided at its middle portion witha hook 13 which is adapted for engagement with the hooked end of a coilspring 14, the other end of which is preferably secured to the side ofthe casing, whereby the ears are yieldingly held between it, theshelling cylinder and the shelling blade 18 presently described. Pivotedto the rear edge of the cover section 11 to freely swing in eitherdirection is a gate 15, Fig. 3, which readily permits the insertion ofears of corn into the casing, but which prevents shelled grains frombeing thrown out through the hopper. A plural.- ity of cover sections 16extend along the lower portion of the casing and are hinged to one sidethereof by spring-hinges 17 or otherwise yieldingly held, in order toprovide for the yielding pressure described of the cover section 11. Theadjacent edges of the cover sections 11 and 16 are adapted to fit withinthe contiguous edge of the casing, as shown best at Figs. 4 and 6, andall of said Sections may be raised on their hinges for ready access tothe interior of the casing. That edge of the lower sections 10which isclosest to the hopper, is, if constructed of metal, bent upwardly, andif of wood, concaved, (.ee 16, Fig. 2.) in order to facilitate thepassage of the ears.

In order to provide an economical construction, we have, as shown in themodification at Fig. at, bent one of the upper edges of the casing at asharp angle to project downwardly and constitute a shelling blade 18. Ablock of wood 29 may, if the metal of the casing is not suflicientlyheavy, be placed in the angle thus formed, as a reinforcement. Weprefer, however, to construct this portion of the invention as shownbest at Fig. 6, in which a longitudinally arranged shelling bar 18 isfixed to the block 29, which is fixed in turn to the side of the casing.Any suitable means may, if deemed necessary, be employed to adjust thebar 18 with reference to the cylinder.

A chute 19 depends from the lower end of the casing and is open at itsrear portion. It is provided also with an opening 20 along its bottom,and a second chute, 21, is fixed to the lower portion of the main chutetherebeneath to catch and direct kernels into a suitable receptacle.

Journaled in bearings 22, 23 on the transverse bars of the frame 3 is ashaft 2% which carries at one end a sprocket 25 geared with the pinion 5by a chain 26 which embraces them. At its lower end the shaft 24 carriesa fan 27 which revolves within the chute 19.

Ears of corn on being fed into the casing through the hopper will becarried by the teeth 8 of the cylinder over against the shelling bladeand they will be held with a yielding pressure thereagainst and againstthe pegs or teeth by the cover section 11. The spirally arranged teethand the force of gravity will direct the ears downwardly of the casing,they being constantly revolved in a direction contrary to the directionof revolution of the cylinder. As they travel along in their downwardpath, and as a portion of the grains are stripped from the cob, thespring-actuated sectional covers 16 will still act to cause them to beheld with a yielding contact against the shelling mechanism until everygrain is stripped from the cob. The latter will be carried out throughthe opening at the lower end of'the casing, while the grains will passdownwardly to near the lower end thereof where they will be stopped bythe projecting end 27 of the chute 19, whereupon they will fall onto thelatter, start rearwardly down its inclined bottom, be winnowed or freedfrom chaff and dust by the fan, dropped through the opening 20 andthence fall upon the secondary chute 21 and into a suitable vesselpositioned for their reception.

We are aware that some of the elements of our invention are old in theart, and we do not claim them specifically. We do not, however, desireto be understood as limiting our claims to any of the several elementshereinbefore recited, as numerous unessential changes and modificationsmay be made in the construction, arrangement, mutual relationship anddisposition for coaction without departing from the general idea of ourinvention.

e therefore claim as new the following, namely 1. A corn shellercomprising a casing, a toothed cylinder revolubly mounted therein, alongitudinally disposed shelling bar, and a sectional spring-actuatedcover adapted for movement within said casing, one edge of the coversections being flared upwardly.

2. A corn sheller comprising a casing, a toothed cylinder revolublymounted therein, a longitudinally disposed shelling bar also therein, asectional cover hinged to one side of the casing, one of its portionsadapted to have movement therein, a gate pivoted to the hinged edge ofone of the sections of said sectional cover, a hook fixed to the freeedge of said section, and a yielding spring fixed to the casing andadapted to engage said hook.

In witness whereof we have hereunto affixed our signatures this sixthday of March, 1908, at Galesburg, Ill.

lVitnesses:

WM. E. DUVINE, H. M. RICHARDS.

